THE LAW OF HARBOURS AND PILOTAGE

With the ever-increasing demands for safer ships, cleaner seas and prevention of
environmental damage in coastal waters by marine casualties, the role of harbour
authorities in ensuring that such demands are met is very important. It is equally
important for them to maintain their ports in a safe condition and with adequate
facilities, so that accidents to ships using them can be prevented. Manoeuvring in or
out of a port can be quite difficult without the guidance of expert pilots, or harbour
masters, who know local waters. There are various statutes and by-laws, which
regulate the rights and obligations of harbours in making ports safe, preventing
accidents and dealing with dangerous or unsafe ships, taking care of environmental
safety and performing many other functions. Not only has the British Government
charted a new course on port marine operations1 – which includes accountability of
port authorities, risk assessment and management, contingency plans and emergency response, management of navigation and pilotage – but parallel proposals
towards a coherent policy on ports and maritime infrastructures have also been
made by the European Commission.2